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Lloyd Williams crosses for Cardiff‘s fourth try against Brive in Round 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup
Cardiff Rugby look to maintain their spectacular EPCR Challenge Cup form as they head to CA Brive for Round 4 on Saturday.
The Welsh region currently boast a points difference of +110 across their three wins so far this campaign, and sit top of Pool A with a place in the knockout stage secured.
Brive, on the other hand, have lost all three of their matches in the competition – including a 41-0 defeat in the Welsh capital on the opening weekend.
The match kicks off at 15:15 (UK & Irish time) at Stade Amédée-Domenech, and can be watched at epcrugby.tv and FloRugby.
Key quote:
Cardiff director of rugby Dai Youngs: “If we can get a result out there, hopefully that means we finish in the top two and that gives us a real shot then. There are only quality teams in this competition, but we’d be facing those quality teams at home.”
Round Three ✅
1️⃣ qualification spot left in Pool A, with 5️⃣ teams still in with a shot 👀
Bring on next weekend 🔥#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/TzDklEv4HD
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 15, 2023
CA Brive
- Tietie Tuimauga has missed eight tackles in the competition so far. Enzo Herve has allowed an offload to be made by the attacker with four of his six tackles. No player has allowed more.
- Brive have made both the fewest carries (229) and contact metres (159) in the tournament.
- Brive have missed more tackles than any other team (74), registering a competition-low 82.6 per cent tackle success rate.
Cardiff Rugby
- Both Teddy Williams and Ellis Jenkins made 19 tackles at the weekend – with Jenkins missing none.
- As support runners, Thomas Young (65) and Josh Adams (54) have made the most metres in the tournament.
- Seb Davies has made more choke tackles than any other player, with five. Josh Turnbull has made just one fewer.
Cardiff ended their Pool A campaign on 15 points
Cardiff Rugby missed the chance to top EPCR Challenge Cup Pool A as they were beaten 37-24 at CA Brive on Saturday.
The Welsh region had secured a place in the Round of 16 prior to kick off, but a bonus-point victory would have seen them overhaul RC Toulon and Glasgow Warriors.
On the other hand, Brive’s victory sees them a place in the Round of 16 at the very last opportunity.
The TOP 14 outfit, who had lost all three of their previous matches in the competition, turned on the style at Stadium de Brive.
Target acquired 🎯
An 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝘼𝙉𝙀 50:22 from @Cardiff_Rugby's Rhys Priestland 🤯#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/8Xh65hrN2g
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 21, 2023
Tries from Motu Matuu, Mathis Ferte and Kevin Fabien, plus a conversion from Nicolas Sanchez, sent them in 17-3 up at the break, with Cardiff mustering only a Rhys Priestland penalty in response.
And the scoring continued thick and fast in the second half, Arthur Bonneval bagging a try brace for the hosts, with Sanchez and Enzo Herve adding the extras.
Cardiff closed the gap with tries from James Botham, Jason Harries and Priestland – who also converted all three, but they were unable to reel in Brive.
Cardiff will console themselves with the knowledge that they will have a home tie in the Round of 16.
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